Monday, June 26, 2023

 Throughout my academic journey, I have engaged in reflective exercises on the wisdom books. However, I have never had the inclination to request God to bring about misfortune in my life. The notion of eternal punishment has not been a driving force for me to strive for greater sanctity in my connection with God. I find it challenging to comprehend how individuals can harbor self-inflicted resentment to the extent that they believe they do not deserve positive avenues of salvation. Furthermore, I have never considered the possibility that God expects me to acknowledge my ability to sin, take responsibility for my shortcomings, and be accountable for them.I have been guided and influenced by the teachings of redemption espoused by Him, which presents a challenge for me to accept situations where an individual's self-worth is diminished through the notion of easily attainable grace. Grace symbolizes the culmination of our salvation, thus rendering it difficult to perceive as something inexpensive, as we continually strive for more grace until we attain heaven. It becomes evident that those who interpret Titus in isolation may mistakenly assume that other scriptural references to grace would similarly caution against the devaluation of grace. Nevertheless, I hold a steadfast belief in the interconnectedness of faith, grace, baptism, and the Lord as an metaphysical and unified concept.In academic discourse, it is important to note that the Bible does not provide any assurance of a time when individuals will possess sufficient goodness to merit the worthiness of grace. The value of grace remains constant and independent of whether it is granted to us. It is our lack of faith, rather than our sins, that diminishes the significance of grace. The acquisition of grace is contingent upon our acknowledgment of sin, and it is bestowed upon us freely. The essence of grace lies in its ability to absolve our sins without any cost. While it is true that Christ sacrificed His life, both in living and dying, to offer grace, there is no action we can undertake to make it more accessible to us besides acknowledging our sins. The abundance of grace prevails even in the presence of abundant sin.If the scope of free grace is confined solely to our salvation and does not encompass the grace pertaining to our sanctification, it implies that our personal endeavors are indispensable for attaining salvation. This is because grace and works are fundamentally incongruous and cannot exist harmoniously. Whereas grace is bestowed unconditionally, works derive their significance from individual actions. The amalgamation of these notions cannot be achieved in order to augment their profundity or value.What is the historical genesis of the notion that grace serves as the fundamental basis for moral conduct? When did the distinction between sanctification and justification first emerge? This concept suggests that grace is a tangible component upon which we rely, but in truth, it pertains to the inherent nature of our behaviors. We cannot claim that we have accomplished a virtuous act on our own accord that pleases God. The Bible does not commend individuals for their self-assuredness in their sanctification or depict justification as solely facilitated by Christ to initiate our actions.In the teachings of Christ, it is asserted that Pharisees possess a unique capacity to guide individuals towards a state of damnation that is twice as severe as their own. This assertion is notable because Christ does not merely suggest that Pharisees have the potential to tempt others through their words, which would allow for the possibility of making an informed decision to worsen their own situation. Instead, He emphasizes that the teachings of the Pharisees themselves have the ability to corrupt and defile individuals, resulting in various psychological disturbances. As a consequence, these teachings can estrange people from Christ and impede their ability to find solace and redemption in His teachings. This is precisely why I strongly advocate for emphasizing the significance of grace, as it often becomes a contentious matter when dealing with particular individuals.

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